Nova Scotia Premier Darrell Dexter has unexpectedly put an untendered lease on hold involving the move of the Fisheries Department from Halifax to Cornwallis, N.S.

Dexter moved shortly after Fisheries Minister Sterling Belliveau defended the $289,000 annual lease as a good deal for taxpayers.

The premier says he is reviewing the file after the Opposition parties questioned whether the 10-year lease was a wise use of public money.

The government’s lease is with the non-profit Cornwallis Park Development Association, which recently bought the property.

It was sold for $162,500 eight days ago, according to an online property listing.

The opposition parties say the lease should have been put to tender.

They also say the government rushed the deal in order to transfer some government jobs to a rural area ahead of an election expected next year